How Oil Money Failed to Save Climate-Denying Lawmakers in 2026

The 2026 midterm elections resulted in a sweeping victory for the Democratic Party–even in many places long considered to be Republican strongholds. While votes are still being tallied, many key races have already been called–including a statewide race in Texas in which voters elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time since the 1980s. Similarly, Kansas elected a Democratic Senator for the first time in a century. The electoral landslide will leave both the House and Senate chambers in Democratic control for at least the next two years. 

The election results are widely viewed as a rebuke of the Trump administration, as well as a legislative branch that was perceived to have ceded power to the president, abdicating its function to act as a check on the executive branch. While post election analysis suggests that the war in Iran, high gas prices, and the rising cost of living were the most important issues for voters, the so-called blue wave also resulted in the ouster of multiple incumbents candidates who have received tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from the oil and gas industry and are on the record as climate change deniers. 

Using data from the Center for American Progress, Climate Crisis 247 identified the U.S. lawmakers representatives who receive money from the oil industry and were, or will likely be, voted out of office in 2026. We ranked all congressional representatives who were on the ballot and classified as climate deniers by the CAP, and ranked those who lost their re-election bid, or appear likely to lose, on the amount of money they received from the oil and gas industry. Election results, as reported by The Guardian, are current as of November 4, 2026, and are subject to change.

 10. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $36,505
• Constituency: Indiana’s 5th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: J.D. Ford (D)
• 2026 election status: Called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 51.7% for challenger; 48.3% for incumbent

 9. Rep. Jeff Crank (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $49,581
• Constituency: Colorado’s 5th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Jessica Killin (D)
• 2026 election status: Not yet called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 51.6% for challenger; 45.3% for incumbent

 8. Rep. Eli Crane (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $69,740
• Constituency: Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Jonathan Nez (D)
• 2026 election status: Not yet called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 49.2% for challenger; 49.1% for incumbent

 7. Rep. Mike Lawler (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $196,893
• Constituency: New York’s 17th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Cait Conley (D)
• 2026 election status: Not yet called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 52.2% for challenger; 47.7% for incumbent

 6. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $203,311
• Constituency: Michigan’s 4th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Sean McCann (D)
• 2026 election status: Called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 50.1% for challenger; 48.3% for incumbent

 5. Rep. Scott Perry (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $240,136
• Constituency: Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Janelle Stelson (D)
• 2026 election status: Called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 55.0% for challenger; 45.0% for incumbent

 4. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $242,822
• Constituency: Colorado’s 4th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Eileen Laubacher (D)
• 2026 election status: Not yet called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 49.2% for challenger; 47.7% for incumbent

 3. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $254,470
• Constituency: North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Chuck Hubbard (D)
• 2026 election status: Not yet called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 48.7% for challenger; 48.7% for incumbent

 2. Rep. Mike Carey (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $286,950
• Constituency: Ohio’s 15th Congressional District
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Don Leonard (D)
• 2026 election status: Called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 51.9% for challenger; 45.3% for incumbent

 1. Sen. Roger Marshall (R)

• Political contributions candidate received from the fossil fuel industry: $343,615
• Constituency: Kansas at-large
• Challenger in 2026 midterm race: Adam Hamilton (D)
• 2026 election status: Called
• 2026 election vote tally as of Nov. 4: 50.9% for challenger; 46.1% for incumbent

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